Video karaoke system and method of use

ABSTRACT

Method and system for customizing a motion film selection by selecting a film clip including a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track, modifying the sound track to remove a selected actor voice track, recording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the new voice track.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of provisional applicationserial No. 60/215,513, filed Jun. 30, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to video Karaoke systems, and moreparticularly to Karaoke systems that allow dubbing an actor's voice in avideo clip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method forcustomizing a motion film selection comprising selecting a film clipincluding a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actorvoice tracks and a background track, modifying the sound track to removea selected actor voice track, recording a new voice track forsynchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new soundtrack including the modified sound track and the new voice track.

[0004] In a further aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for customizing a motion film selection comprising selecting afilm clip including a video track and an original sound track comprisingone or more actor voice tracks and a background track, selecting amodified sound track comprising the original sound track with a selectedactor voice track removed therefrom, recording a new voice track forsynchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new soundtrack including the modified sound track and the new voice track.

[0005] In a yet further aspect, the present invention provides a methodto enable customizing a motion film selection comprising providing afilm clip including a video track and an original sound track comprisingone or more actor voice tracks and a background track, providing amodified sound track comprising the original sound track with a selectedactor voice track removed therefrom, and providing a system forrecording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selectedactor, the system further for saving a new sound track including themodified sound track and the new voice track.

[0006] In further aspects of the invention, the invention includesplaying the video track together with the new sound track to synchronizethe new voice track in the new sound track with the selected actor inthe video track. The invention may also include producing a new filmclip by saving the video track together with the new soundtrack, playingthe new film clip, and distributing the new film clip for playback.According to the invention, recording a new voice track may includerecording a new voice track that is the same as the selected actor voicetrack or recording a new voice track that is different from the selectedactor voice track.

[0007] The invention additionally provides systems to implement themethods described above. The invention also provides a system fordubbing the voice of a user over the voice of an actor or actors in aselected movie clip by replacing the voice of the actor or actors whileretaining the background music score and sound effects of the originalmovie clip.

[0008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method forcustomizing the soundtrack of a video clip for various entertainment,educational, therapeutic, and other uses.

[0009] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method forenhancing electronic greetings, invitations, and other types ofelectronic messages such as e-mail, and thus the desirability andmarketability of such services to the general public.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system according to the invention; and

[0011] FIGS. 2-8 represent screens that may be displayed to a user of avideo karaoke system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, in one aspect the present inventionprovides a system 10 for replacing the voice of an actor in thesoundtrack of a selected movie clip with the voice of a user, andplaying the movie clip with the modified soundtrack. In one preferredembodiment shown in the figure, the system 10 of the present inventioncomprises, generally, a computer 20 with associated usercommand/selection input devices such as a keyboard 30 and/or a mouse 32,a touch screen, a remote control, as well as audio input devices such asa microphone 36. The computer 20 is further connected to at least onevideo output device such as a typical computer monitor 40, as well asaudio output devices such as speakers [not shown]. The computer may alsobe connected to a typical TV set for playing the modified movie clip. Auser sound input device such as a microphone 36 is also connected to thecomputer. The system 10 additionally comprises at least one storagedevice such as a hard drive 50 and/or a CD-ROM drive, CDR, CD/RW, DVD,and/or other removable storage devices. The storage device may bephysically connected to the computer 20 as is the case with typical harddrives, or may be accessible through a communication link 60 (e.g. amodem, local area network, wide area network, or storage area network)as is the case where the storage device is remotely located, such as aserver accessible through the Internet, an intranet, via a dial-upconnection, DSL, satellite, fiber optic lines, wireless networks, etc.

[0013] In addition to being connected to the storage device 50 toretrieve a movie clip for modification by the user, the computer 20 willalso run the software that enables the various functions of the systemof the present invention. In a particular preferred embodiment, thesoftware of the invention may perform the functions described below,which are described in the order in which a user is likely to initiatethem while using the system 10 of the invention.

[0014] The software may operate by displaying successive screens to theuser on the computer monitor 40, wherein each screen contains a numberof different choices among which the user must select one. Thus, in onepreferred embodiment as illustrated by FIG. 2, an initial screen willpresent the user with the option of selecting a movie for a newrecording, playing a previously recorded performance, or reviewing helptopics. Upon choosing to make a new recording, the next screen as shownin FIG. 3 will display a list of types of movies clips available, suchas comedy, drama, action/adventure, science fiction, etc. Upon choosingone of these categories via the input devices 30 or 32, the followingscreen may present available movie clips belonging to the selectedcategory, as shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 5, after selecting aparticular clip the user may next be presented with the option ofpreviewing the clip or recording over one or more actors' voices.Previewing the clip will simply entail playing the clip on the monitor,or alternatively on the TV set, to allow the user to familiarize himselfwith the actors in the clip and the actors' lines (with or withoutcaptions), and to help the user decide which actor(s) to select. Thevideo clips may be stored in any preferred format, including but notlimited to the MPEG, AVI, Windows Media, QuickTime, or Real Videoformat. In an alternative embodiment, the software will also allow usersto provide their own video, such as from their own DVDs or camcorderclips, and to review the video clips to select a portion to revoice.

[0015] With continued reference to FIG. 5, another option may allow theuser to record over an actor's voice. A screen will first identify theactors in the selected movie clip, and offer a list of those actors overwhich the user may record his or her own voice. The user will thenselect one or more actors, and will next proceed to record mode. Ifmultiple audio input devices are available, the system will allow theuser to assign which actor's lines will be replaced by which inputdevice, thus allowing multiple users to record the same scenesimultaneously. In record mode, the software will play the video imageof the selected movie clip along with the background sounds, the musicscore, and the voices of all the actors except the actor(s) selected bythe user for voice-over. As the selected actor delivers his or her linesin the movie, the actor's voice(s) are muted. Optionally, as illustratedin FIG. 6, the actor's lines are also displayed as text onto the monitor40. Each sentence spoken by the selected actor preferably is preceded bycueing beeps to alert the user. As the selected actor delivers his orher lines, each word spoken by the selected actor may optionally also behighlighted across the screen as it is being spoken by the actor. Thisfeature helps the user synchronize his voice with the voice of theselected actor, and thus results in a more “natural” end product as thevoice of the user is better synchronized with the lips of the selectedactor. Additional caption notations such as emphasis/softness can beadded to enhance the recording.

[0016] As the selected actor's words are optionally displayed andhighlighted across the monitor, the microphone 36 is activated andrecords the user's voice as the user speaks the selected actor's linesin synchronization with the selected actor. Of course, the user maychoose to speak different words than those of the selected actor,thereby in effect editing the movie scene to the user's liking. Byoptionally displaying the selected actor's lines and highlighting thewords as they are delivered, the user is aided in synchronizing his newwords to the selected actor's lips if he so desires, thus enhancing theillusion that the actor is actually delivering the user's lines.

[0017] Once the user has finished recording over the selected actor'svoice, the system software offers the option of previewing the clip withthe modified soundtrack, i.e. with the selected actor's voice replacedby the user's voice, or the option of saving a new version of the clipwith the modified soundtrack. At this point the user may also choose toselect one of the other available actors and replace that actor's voice,or to re-record over the voice of the originally selected actor.

[0018] While recording over the voices of additional actors, the usermay choose to hear the original voices of all other actors, or may optto hear the modified soundtrack with the previously selected actors'voices dubbed over. Alternatively, the user may select to hear theoriginal voice of some actors and the dubbed voices of other actors. Ina preferred embodiment, the system software saves the voice of eachactor in a separate, digitally encoded audio file (such as in a WAV orMP3 format file), and thus allows the user complete flexibility inchoosing the desired audio track for each actor. Thus, when the userchooses to save a modified soundtrack, the system software in essencesaves an audio file containing the user's voice for replacing an actor'soriginal voice audio file during playback of the movie clip.

[0019] The user can repeat the recording steps for all available actorsin the selected clip until the user is satisfied with the results, atwhich time the movie clip may be displayed full screen together with themodified soundtrack comprised of the individual sound files for eachactor, each actor dubbed over by the user, the background sounds, andthe music score. The modified movie clip may be displayed on thecomputer monitor 40 or an optional TV set 42 connected to the computer40 running the system software of the present invention.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the system software of the presentinvention offers additional features and options. Basic features such asmicrophone sensitivity, volume, brightness/contrast are provided.Noise-canceling features that record ambient noises and cancel them areused to improve audio quality. A desirable feature may include theability to adjust the properties of each audio file, including but notlimited to volume, pitch, tone, echo, and noise filtering, as shown inFIG. 7. A sound analysis plug-in system adhering to current standardswill allow users to add from a large collection of existing filters orcustom ones. In this manner, the user may adjust his recorded voice tomore closely match the voices of the other actors in a selected movieclip, and thus enhance the overall quality of the modified soundtrack byblending the modified voices with the original voices and the musicscore. Additional features may be provided to automatically adjust therecorded tracks with the original by “audio morphing” the recordedtracks to (variably) match the original. Static elements such as volume,amount of echo, can be automatically adjusted. Furthermore, timing canbe analyzed for pauses and individual vowels and then shifted, stretchedor compressed to match the original, further enhancing the realism ofthe user speaking the original lines. Similarly, spectral changes can beapplied or enhanced automatically to seamlessly immerse the user in thescene. The amount of “assistance” is user-selectable, or in a possiblegame scenario, reduced as the level of difficulty increases. Also, thedegree of assistance needed can be used to determine the score. As shownin FIG. 8, the user may choose to save any such modified, or adjusted,audio files as separate files in addition to the original replacementaudio file, and may thus choose to create multiple versions of a single‘take’. In this manner the user will be afforded the ability to comparethe various versions and thus select a preferred version. Comparing thevarious versions may be further aided by the use of a sound analyzer, asdescribed below.

[0021] Another desirable feature may be a sound analyzer that willdisplay the waveform and spectral analysis of a selected audio file, oroptionally display and contrast the waveforms of two or more selectedaudio files. In this manner, the user may compare his voice with theoriginal voice of the selected actor, and compare his timing,inflection, and volume against the original actor's voice. This featuremay also be useful for aspiring actors practicing their delivery, oralternatively for an user attempting to learn a foreign language bydubbing over a soundtrack in foreign language and using the system ofthe present invention to review and critique his progress. Additionally,the system may be used in speech therapy, such as to teach the deaf orhearing impaired to speak by allowing them to dub over an actor's voiceas they watch the actor's lips move and concurrently read thehighlighted words, and subsequently to visually review their performanceby comparing their voice with that of the actor through the soundanalyzer waveforms.

[0022] The sound analyzer may also be able to assign a numerical scoreor grade to a user's recording based upon the degree to which the userwas able to match the original actor's voice. The score may be basedupon a mathematical analysis of the differences between the twowaveforms in terms of synchronization, volume, voice pitch, etc. Theuser optionally may be allowed to select the parameters upon which thescore is based, thereby allowing the user to tailor the scoring tool ofthe sound analyzer to his particular desired use. Thus, the system ofthe invention may be used as an entertainment tool that allows varioususers to compete against one another in trying to dub over (or imitate?)an actor's voice. Alternatively, therapy or educational users of thesystem may assess their progress by keeping track of their scores.

[0023] Another option available to the user may be to save the movieclip together with any one or more of the modified voice tracks and theoriginal music score and background track as a standard video file, suchas in MPEG, AVI, Windows Media, QuickTime, or Real Video format. In thismanner, the user may distribute the modified movie clip to friends andothers via any available distribution medium, including either viae-mail or on a disc, tape, or cd. This feature thus opens many otherpossibilities for use of the present invention, as more fully discussedbelow.

[0024] Yet another option that may be offered by the system software ofthe invention is editing the visual elements of the movie clip. Userscan select photographs to be superimposed/inserted into the video, thusinserting themselves into the scene. Another possibility is to segmentout the static background of a scene and replace it with anotherbackground or even video, thus completely altering the context of thevideo. In one embodiment, the computer 20 may additionally be connectedto a video camera [not shown] that will capture either still images ofthe user, or optionally capture a video file of the user's head as hespeaks the selected actor's lines. The software may embody functionsthat will replace the head of the selected actor with the videotapedimage of the user's head, thus in essence completely replacing theselected actor from the clip with the user. Optionally, a ‘canned’ orpre-recorded video source may be used to provide images to replace aselected actor, such a video tape, video disc, DVD, or a video computerfile in any desired format, such as MPEG, AVI, Windows Media, QuickTime,or Real Video. A more sophisticated setup can be used to scan the 3-Dstructure of a user's face or entire body, and using 3-D renderingtechniques, generate arbitrary movements of the user's virtual self andinsert or overlay them onto the scene. The actions of the virtualcharacters can be animated via several methods.Prerecorded/pre-programmed motion sequences of the original actors canbe provided so their original actions can be mimicked exactly. However,the user can choose to animate their virtual self by specifying themotions manually, or in a sophisticated setting, use motion-capturetechnology to automatically convert the user's motions onto the screen.If desired, their motions can be judged by how closely they resemble theoriginal, in addition to scoring the revoicing.

[0025] As previously mentioned, the invention may be used foreducational purposes, such as learning a foreign language. In thismethod of use of the invention, movie clips in the desired foreignlanguage are made available along with the appropriate text for eachactor's lines. The user thus speaks along with a selected actor in theforeign language while watching the actor's lips and reading along withthe highlighted words, thereby practicing not only his vocabulary butalso the proper inflection and timing. As discussed elsewhere in thespecification, an audio analyzer may be provided to display a visualindication of the match between the user's voice and the originalactor's voice, thus further aiding the user.

[0026] Similarly, the system software may be used to teach youngchildren or the learning impaired simple concepts such as, among others,object recognition. In one embodiment, a movie clip may be preparedwherein an actor points to various objects and concurrently pronounceseach object's name. A child viewing the movie clip would repeat the nameof each object while viewing the name of the object on the screen. Inthis manner, the child would expand her vocabulary while learning toread, or recognize letters, in an entertaining and amusing mannerafforded by the ability to hear her own voice played along with themovie clip.

[0027] As discussed above, in one embodiment of the invention each movieclip is comprised of a video file, individual audio files for eachactor, background, and music, and multiple text files for eachindividual actor's audio file. In one method of preparing these files, atypical video file such as a MPEG file of the desired movie clip is usedto obtain the respective individual files listed above. Each individualactor's audio file is prepared by analyzing the actor's voice and thensubtracting that particular frequency range from the original soundtrackto obtain the particular actor's voice. When all actors' voices havebeen subtracted out and saved in individual files, the remainingsoundtrack comprises the background and music score. (Not this easy . .. )

[0028] In an alternative approach, the movie clip may be prepared foruse with the invention from the very beginning, by recording eachactor's voice independently of the other actors, the background, and themusic score. Professionally produced films and features are typicallyproduced in this manner, and thus one method of preparing movie clipsfor use with the invention is to use the original studio video and audiorecordings to prepare the various individual audio tracks. Additionally,audio tracks on consumer video formats are encoded in multiple channels,such as Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital, and DTS. In these formats thevoices are separately encoded in the center channel, and the rest of thechannels are the background and soundtrack. Therefore, the centerchannel can be decoded and broken down to individual actor's lines forrevoicing.

[0029] The text files associated with the individual audio files may beindividual video files of the movie clip with the text superimposed ontothe video image. In this embodiment, a video file with the correspondingtext superimposed upon the image is provided along with each individualactor's audio file, and the respective video file is played along withthe matching audio file whenever the user selects that particular actorfor over-dubbing. Alternative methods of displaying the text are withinthe ready purview of those skilled in the art, and are all includedwithin the scope of the invention as described herein. Other methods ofdynamically superimposing caption text can be built into the softwarepackage. It would render the text using the timing code and annotationsincluded in the text file.

[0030] The preferred embodiment of the invention entails the use ofprofessionally prepared movie clips, wherein the end user is providedwith a movie clip comprising the video file, the various individualaudio files, and the associated text files. In an alternativeembodiment, the system software of the invention may include functionsthat allow the user to select any video clip from any source and preparethe individual audio tracks and text files. The text may be encodedmanually by the user, or alternatively voice recognition software may beincluded in the system software to extract text information from audiofiles.

[0031] The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises softwareexecutable on a computer such as a personal computer or Macintoshrunning the Windows or Macintosh operating system, respectively.However, any device capable of executing the software code may beemployed with the invention, such as the Sony Playstation II and similarvideo game devices.

[0032] In another aspect of the invention, the system software will beavailable to users for purchase on various media, such as disks, cd's,or on-line via e-mail or the Internet. Similarly, movie clips comprisingthe necessary audio, video, and text files will also be available forpurchase through various media. Thus, in one embodiment, a serviceprovider may establish an Internet web site that users may log onto andelectronically purchase any of a variety of movie clips. Such clips maybe purchased by users for home entertainment purposes, or for use atpublic facilities such as bars, amusement parks and video arcades,charged on a per-use basis. To protect the intellectual properties ofcopyrighted material, security measures must be used when a video clipis distributed online. Specifically, watermark technology will be usedto encode information about the owner of the downloaded material. Todiscourage illegal distribution, the user's personal information, suchas name, address, and even credit card numbers, is strongly encryptedand then embedded in the video file, which can be recovered by thecopyright holder if necessary. If piracy is suspected, the originalbuyer of the video can be recovered and traced, thus acting as adeterrent to broadly trade files with strangers. This method will notprevent sharing between family and friends, which should actually beencouraged. However, possibly only degraded or preview versions of thevideo could be redistributed by the users.

[0033] In case of an accidental key loss, such as harddisk crashes, theuser simply has to provide the information used when purchasing thevideos. However, if the information is lost, such as very old and longexpired credit cards, the user will have the option of providing a newcredit card number. If the new information is valid, the customer willnot be charged and a new key will be issued using the old informationfrom the server's database, so the video can be once again be unlocked.In the case of falsely reported key loss, this scenario is detectedduring the renewal process, when the rightful owner renews with theoriginal information, which contradicts the new key. Therefore, the userwho falsely reported the lost key will have to pay for past usage toreceive a renewal.

[0034] To protect the user's privacy, all online transactions will bedone through secured channels, such as SSL (secured socket layer), andstrongly encrypted. To prevent possible hackers from recovering creditcard numbers, the credit card numbers are encrypted using one-wayciphers and thus non-recoverable. It is only necessary for the player touse the same cipher algorithm to encrypt and compare the encryptedcredit card numbers, not the original information.

[0035] To prevent key theft, or “identity theft,” user keys have to berenewed on a periodic basis with the server. This mechanism is for theusers to update the information, such as address changes and credit cardupdates. During the renewal process, user information is verified, and anew encryption key is sent to the user. This key will be used to“unlock” the original video. Thus, in the event of a theft, thevideo/key pair will only work until the next retrieval period.

[0036] In another method of distributing movie clips to users,promotional clips may be freely distributed by movie studios to generateinterest in newly released movies. Thus, in one embodiment, the serviceprovider's web site may offer movie clips for sale as well aspromotional movie clips free of charge. Promotional movie clips may notonly be clips from newly released movies, but also televisioncommercials featuring celebrities, music videos, variety show clips,classic news segments such as political speeches, etc. Depending uponthe level of interest, some of these clips may be offered for sale.Promotional clips distributed by the service provider may be paid for bya fee charged to the promoter, either in the form of a flat fee or a feebased upon the number of times a particular promotional clip isdownloaded by users accessing the service provider's web site.

[0037] In an alternative method of use of the invention, movies, newssegments, variety shows, and other video files may be produced for usewith the system software of the invention and distributed in this mannerto end users. In a particular example, a television news segment may berecorded in English and distributed to local television stations in aformat compatible with the system software of the invention. A Spanishlanguage local station may then use the system software of the inventionto dub over the English language commentary with the equivalent Spanishtranslation, and then broadcast the news segment to its local Spanishspeaking viewing audience. Other similar post-production uses, includingfinal film soundtrack editing, are also within the scope of theinvention. In this manner, the invention would enable highly individualcustomization of video clips by end users for local, targeteddistribution.

[0038] In another alternative method of use, the system software may beused to prepare video clips for electronic distribution asannouncements, invitations, greetings, etc. Electronic greetings havebecome very popular, wherein an invitee receives an e-mail directing herto connect to a particular web site and view thereon the invitation orannouncement that somebody has mailed to her, potentially along withadvertisements and other promotional materials. Instead of displaying astatic picture or a known movie clip, the present invention would allowusers of the electronic greeting services to prepare a highlyindividualized video clip wherein their favorite actors or singersdeliver their particular message. In this embodiment, the systemsoftware may be partially or fully resident on the electronic greetingsweb site, and downloaded on demand by the user. The web site may offer avariety of movie clips from which the user may select one to edit on hishome computer, following which the edited video clip would bedistributed from the web site to the recipients listed by the user. Thecost of this service would be passed on to the advertisers displayingbanners and other advertising material that is viewed by each recipientthat signs onto the web site to view her invitation or announcement.

[0039] Alternatively, the greetings provider may e-mail the entiremodified video clip to each recipient. In such case the video clip mayhave to be modified to require less memory and thus less transmissionbandwidth, such as by decreasing the size of the video image or thecolor depth or both, or through the use of an appropriatecompression-algorithm. In such an embodiment, the cost of the servicemay be charged to the user who sends out the invitations, or toadvertisers whose advertising messages may be automatically incorporatedinto the modified video clip or into the e-mail message that is sent toeach recipient along with the video clip.

[0040] As mentioned above, the invention may be used for entertainmentpurposes in public venues such as bars or arcades. In one embodiment ofsuch use, a booth may be provided containing the system 10 of theinvention, wherein users may prepare custom video clips and e-mail themto various recipients for a fee.

[0041] Video compression technology has been steadily improving, withthe current state-of-the-art MPEG 4 reducing the file size two to tenfold when compared to the current MPEG 2 standard used in the DVD formatand the DSS satellite TV systems. Furthermore, bandwidth has beenincreasing quickly with cable modems, DSL, satellite, and opticalnetworking becoming increasingly available. With the progression ofreducing file size and increasing bandwidth, online video distributionbecomes more viable with time. With available technologies today, shortclips can be downloaded rapidly. Other options can be to set up downloadstations at physical locations, such as video rental stores, whereremovable storage can be used to download and store custom selections ofclips.

[0042] Other features and uses of the system and method of the inventionmay include:

[0043] Distributing free versions of the player, downloadable throughthe Internet;

[0044] Enhanced versions for recording, plug-ins, works with existingDVDs;

[0045] Video games;

[0046] Sports newscasting;

[0047] Multi-user blind recording, simultaneous or sequential;

[0048] Imitating one or more actors in a film clip;

[0049] Imitating one or more singers in a music video;

[0050] Public competition/judging of best voice-overs;

[0051] Visual aids such as for lips shape/movement, tongueplacement/movement;

[0052] Business presentations, such as annotation for commentary trackfor review and search of video clip

[0053] Compression for distribution

[0054] Online distribution (server/user), including:

[0055] 1. requesting clips,

[0056] 2. previewing version,

[0057] 3. purchasing selected clips,

[0058] 4. encrypting the clips with a watermark including buyer info

[0059] 5. player extraction of encrypted info from watermark andcomparison to buyer info on user's system (buyer's keys)—if theinformation matches, unlocking the film clips,

[0060] 6. user sharing videos with friend—preview version is generatedwith watermark intact, and

[0061] 7. friend receiving preview version, which can be played withoutthe need for the original buyer's info friend can then purchasefull-quality video from server with their own info.

[0062] Having now described the invention in accordance with therequirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art willunderstand how to make changes and modifications in the presentinvention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Suchchanges and modifications may be made without departing from the scopeand spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for customizing a motion film selection,comprising: selecting a film clip including a video track and a soundtrack comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track;modifying the sound track to remove a selected actor voice track;recording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selectedactor; and saving a new sound track including the modified sound trackand the new voice track.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:playing the video track together with the new sound track.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein playing the video track together with the new soundtrack comprises: playing the video track together with the new soundtrack to synchronize the new voice track in the new sound track with theselected actor in the video track.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: producing a new film clip by saving the video track togetherwith the new soundtrack.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein saving thevideo track together with the new soundtrack comprises: saving the videotrack and the new soundtrack with the new voice track in the new soundtrack synchronized to the selected actor in the video track.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising: playing the new film clip.
 7. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising: distributing the new film clipfor playback.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the soundtrack comprises: modifying the sound track to remove a plurality ofselected actor voice tracks; and further comprising recording a newvoice track for synchronized playback with each respective selectedactor; and saving a new sound track including the modified sound trackand the new voice tracks.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein recording anew voice track comprises: recording a new voice track that is the sameas the selected actor voice track.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinrecording a new voice track comprises: recording a new voice track thatis different from the selected actor voice track.
 11. A method forcustomizing a motion film selection, comprising: selecting a film clipincluding a video track and a sound track comprising a plurality ofactor voice tracks and a background track; modifying the sound track toremove a plurality of selected actor voice tracks; recording a new voicetrack for synchronized playback with each respective selected actor; andsaving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the newvoice tracks.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: playingthe video track together with the new sound track.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein playing the video track together with the new soundtrack comprises: playing the video track together with the new soundtrack to synchronize the new voice tracks in the new sound track withthe respective selected actors in the video track.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising: producing a new film clip by saving thevideo track together with the new soundtrack.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein saving the video track together with the new soundtrackcomprises: saving the video track and the new soundtrack with the newvoice tracks in the new sound track synchronized to the respectiveselected actors in the video track.
 16. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: playing the new film clip.
 17. The method of claim 14,further comprising: distributing the new film clip for playback.
 18. Themethod of claim 11, wherein recording new voice tracks comprises:recording at least one new voice track that is the same as therespective selected actor voice track.
 19. The method of claim 11,wherein recording new voice tracks comprises: recording at least one newvoice track that is different from the respective selected actor voicetrack.
 20. A method for customizing a motion film selection, comprising:selecting a film clip including a video track and an original soundtrack comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track;selecting a modified sound track comprising the original sound trackwith a selected actor voice track removed therefrom; recording a newvoice track for synchronized playback with the selected actor; andsaving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the newvoice track.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: playing thevideo track together with the new sound track.
 22. The method of claim21, wherein playing the video track together with the new sound trackcomprises: playing the video track together with the new sound track tosynchronize the new voice track in the new sound track with the selectedactor in the video track.
 23. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising: producing a new film clip by saving the video track togetherwith the new soundtrack.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein saving thevideo track together with the new soundtrack comprises: saving the videotrack and the new soundtrack with the new voice track in the new soundtrack synchronized to the selected actor in the video track.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, further comprising: playing the new film clip. 26.The method of claim 23, further comprising: distributing the new filmclip for playback.
 27. The method of claim 20, wherein selecting amodified sound track comprises: selecting a modified sound trackcomprising the original sound track with a plurality of selected actorvoice tracks removed therefrom; and further comprising recording a newvoice track for synchronized playback with each respective selectedactor; and saving a new sound track including the modified sound trackand the new voice tracks.
 28. The method of claim 20, wherein recordinga new voice track comprises: recording a new voice track that is thesame as the selected actor voice track.
 29. The method of claim 20,wherein recording a new voice track comprises: recording a new voicetrack that is different from the selected actor voice track.
 30. Amethod to enable customizing a motion film selection, comprising:providing a film clip including a video track and an original soundtrack comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track;providing a modified sound track comprising the original sound trackwith a selected actor voice track removed therefrom; and providing asystem for recording a new voice track for synchronized playback withthe selected actor, the system further for saving a new sound trackincluding the modified sound track and the new voice track.
 31. Themethod of claim 30, wherein providing a system further comprises:providing a system for playing the video track together with the newsound track.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein providing a system forplaying the video track together with the new sound track comprises:providing a system for synchronizing the new voice track in the newsound track with the selected actor in the video track during playback.33. The method of claim 30, wherein providing a system furthercomprises: providing a system for saving the video track together withthe new soundtrack to produce a new film clip.
 34. The method of claim33, wherein providing a system for saving the video track together withthe new soundtrack comprises: providing a system for saving the videotrack and the new soundtrack with the new voice track in the new soundtrack synchronized to the selected actor in the video track.
 35. Themethod of claim 33, wherein providing a system further comprises:providing a system for playing the new film clip.
 36. The method ofclaim 33, wherein providing a system further comprises: providing asystem for distributing the new film clip for playback.
 37. The methodof claim 30, wherein providing a modified sound track comprises:providing a modified sound track comprising the original sound trackwith a plurality of selected actor voice tracks removed therefrom; andproviding a system further comprises providing a system for recording anew voice track for synchronized playback with each respective selectedactor, the system further for saving a new sound track including themodified sound track and the new voice tracks.
 38. A system forcustomizing a motion film selection, comprising: a film library forenabling selection of a film clip including a video track and a soundtrack comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track;a sound recorder connected to the library for removing a selected actorvoice track from the sound track and for recording a new voice track forsynchronized playback with the selected actor; and a storage deviceconnected to the recorder for saving a new sound track including themodified sound track and the new voice track.
 39. The system of claim38, wherein the library further comprises: a library for selecting amodified sound track comprising the original sound track with theselected actor voice track removed therefrom.
 40. The system of claims38 or 39, further comprising: a video player connected to the storagedevice for playing the video track together with the new sound track.41. The system of claim 40, wherein the video player comprises: a videoplayer for playing the video track together with the new sound track tosynchronize the new voice track in the new sound track with the selectedactor in the video track.
 42. The system of claims 38 or 39, wherein thestorage device further comprises: a storage device connected to therecorder for producing a new film clip by saving the video tracktogether with the new soundtrack.
 43. The system of claim 42, whereinthe storage device for producing a new film clip comprises: a storagedevice connected to the recorder for producing a new film clip by savingthe video track and the new soundtrack with the new voice track in thenew sound track synchronized to the selected actor in the video track.44. The system of claim 42, wherein the video player comprises: a videoplayer for playing the new film clip.
 45. The system of claims 38 or 39,wherein: the sound recorder comprises a sound recorder for modifying thesound track to remove a plurality of selected actor voice tracks and forrecording a new voice track for synchronized playback with eachrespective selected actor; and the storage device comprises a storagedevice connected to the sound recorder for saving a new sound trackincluding the modified sound track and the new voice tracks.